Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesBefore TakingDosageSide EffectsSevereWarnings and Interactions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Before Taking
Dosage
Side Effects
Severe
Warnings and Interactions
Prescribed to help manage moderate to severe pain, oxycodone is an opioid analgesic drug. It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) of the brain, essentially suppressing pain signaling and stimulating the body’s own pain managing system.
Oxycodone is sold under many names, including Xtampza ER, Oxaydo, Oxycontin, and Roxybond. An active ingredient in other formulations of opioids, in its pure form, oxycodone, is usually a tablet or capsule, though it may be prescribed in liquid form.
Though highly effective in reducing discomfort, this drug produces a range of side-effects, has very high abuse potential, and overdoses can be deadly. Illicit use of opioids like oxycodone has contributed to a drastic increase in opioid-related deaths and health problems, which is a public health crisis in the U.S.
If you or a loved one has been prescribed oxycodone, a knowledge of how this drug works, what its effects are, and how to take it safely is essential.
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Like all opioids, oxycodone is primarily a pain medication. Currently, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for use are:
Before this drug is administered or prescribed, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends practitioners consider the following:
Tramadol vs. Oxycodone: What Are the Differences?
Precautions and Contraindications
Healthcare providers are always very careful about prescribing oxycodone, and there are several factors that outright contraindicate its use:
In addition, healthcare providers will also need to consider the following, which can impact efficacy and increase risks associated with treatment:
Make sure to let your healthcare provider know about all medications, supplements, and vitamins you’re currently taking. Though some drugs have minor interaction risks, others may outright contraindicate use or prompt careful consideration as to whether Xtampza ER is an appropriate treatment.
Other Opioids
As mentioned, oxycodone is what is considered an opioid or narcotic. There are other drugs of this class, including:
In addition, oxycodone is also an ingredient in other commonly prescribed opioids, including:
As noted above, oxycodone comes in both a liquid form, and as tablets or pills. Here’s a quick breakdown of how dosage works in these forms.
Extended-release tablets/capsule: Oxycontin, a tablet, and Xtampza ER, a capsule, are the extended-release versions of oxycodone. Whereas the former is round in shape, the latter is narrower and filled with yellow to light brown capsules.
Tablets and capsules will vary in strength; for instance, typical Xtampza ER tablets come in doses of 9, 13.5, 18, 27, 36 milligrams (mg). Film-coated Oxycontin tablets (controlled-release) come in doses of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 80 mg.
Specific instructions depend on your healthcare provider, but, according to the manufacturer, one tablet every 12 hours (twice daily) is recommended.
Solution:Liquid forms of oxycodone are taken orally. The solution comes in two concentrations: 1 milligram (mg)/milliliter (mL) and a much stronger 20 mg/mL solution, typically reserved for patients more tolerant of opioids.
Specific dosages vary based on the case and level of tolerance, but dosing tends to call for 5 to 15 mg every four to six hours as necessary for pain.You’ll get specific guidance on how to correctly administer this solution.
Modifications
Naturally, some health conditions and other factors may necessitate modifications to dosage of both extended-release and liquid forms of oxycodone. Roughly speaking, these are as follows:
Be sure to follow the prescription and your healthcare provider’s directions closely when it comes to taking any medications and never modify dosages on your own.
How to Take and Store
You’ll get specific instructions from your practitioner about taking oxycodone. However, the typical guidelines are as follows:
And what do you do if you miss a dose? The recommendation is that you take the medication as soon as you remember, and try to return to your normal schedule of doses as soon as possible.
If so much time has elapsed that you’re almost to your next scheduled dose, you can go ahead and skip one.Don’t double-up on medications if you missed them.
It’s extremely important to not abruptly stop taking this drug as this can lead to withdrawal symptoms including irritability, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and many others.Stopping oxycodone suddenly can cause extreme psychological distress and even suicidal thoughts.
When you do stop oxycodone treatment, healthcare providers will taper your intake to reduce the withdrawal symptoms. There is not one standardized tapering schedule as the rate of tapering should be tailored to the patient’s specific needs and concerns. Generally, the rate and duration of tapering will depend on how long you have been taking the drug.
It’s important that you keep your medications safe and out of reach of children. Finally, it’s absolutely essential that you dispose of any leftover medicine safely. These drugs can be habit-forming, and they should never be shared. Excess medication should be taken to a pharmacy, police station, or other safe disposal location.
Among the reasons that excessive opioid use can become problematic is the propensity for users to experience both major and minor side-effects. Though these may be challenging, they can be managed. Throughout the course of treatment, stay vigilant of how you’re feeling and keep your healthcare provider informed on your progress.
Common
Not usually warranting emergency care, the most common side-effects of oxycodone are:
If these persist or become severe, let your healthcare provider know.
Rarer, more severe adverse reactions, occurring in between 1% and 5% of cases, require immediate medical attention. These include:
Overdose of oxycodone can lead to coma and even death. In these cases, the primary danger is respiratory depression, which leads to insufficient oxygen circulating the body.
If your loved one is taking this kind of medication, it’s essential to know the signs, so you can get help as soon as possible. These include:
If you find a loved one in this condition, there are several steps to take:
Oxycodone carriesboxed warnings, the most serious type of safety-related warning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives a medication. These medications can cause life-threatening effects that can lead to hospitalization or death.
In addition, several other prescribed and over-the-counter medications, herbs, supplements, and other substances can also affect how opioids like this work. These include:
This is only a partial list; make sure to have a clear sense of what you can and can’t take alongside oxycodone, and let your healthcare provider know if you’re making any changes.
A Word From Verywell
There is always a fine-line with opioid drugs like oxycodone; for as well as it works in managing pain, this medication is not without its disadvantages and outright dangers. There certainly is an extent to which prescription opioids have contributed to the overall opioid epidemic, and there’s no doubt that any responsible use involves being mindful of potential dependency.
However, in the face of this crisis, healthcare providers and medical professionals have become better-versed at educating patients about these drugs. They’ve revised their prescription approaches to minimize risk and have developed better protocols for managing issues that arise. So long as its used safely and as directed, there’s no doubt that oxycodone has an important place in medicine.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Biotechnology Information PubChem.Compound summary for CID 5284603, oxycodone.National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.Food and Drug Administration.Oxycontin label.Dowell D, Haegerich T, Chou R.CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2016;65(No. RR-1):1–49. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr6501e1Food and Drug Administration.Xtampza ER Label.National Institutes of Health.Oxycodone hydrochloride solution. Dailymed.Dowell D, Ragan KR, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Chou R.CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain — United States, 2022.MMWR Recomm Rep2022;71(No. RR-3):1–95. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association.Promote safe storage and disposal of opioids and all medications.Centers for Disease Control.Preventing an opioid overdose.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about several safety issues with opioid pain medicines; requires label changes.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Biotechnology Information PubChem.Compound summary for CID 5284603, oxycodone.National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.Food and Drug Administration.Oxycontin label.Dowell D, Haegerich T, Chou R.CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2016;65(No. RR-1):1–49. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr6501e1Food and Drug Administration.Xtampza ER Label.National Institutes of Health.Oxycodone hydrochloride solution. Dailymed.Dowell D, Ragan KR, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Chou R.CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain — United States, 2022.MMWR Recomm Rep2022;71(No. RR-3):1–95. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association.Promote safe storage and disposal of opioids and all medications.Centers for Disease Control.Preventing an opioid overdose.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about several safety issues with opioid pain medicines; requires label changes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Center for Biotechnology Information PubChem.Compound summary for CID 5284603, oxycodone.National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.Food and Drug Administration.Oxycontin label.Dowell D, Haegerich T, Chou R.CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2016;65(No. RR-1):1–49. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr6501e1Food and Drug Administration.Xtampza ER Label.National Institutes of Health.Oxycodone hydrochloride solution. Dailymed.Dowell D, Ragan KR, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Chou R.CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain — United States, 2022.MMWR Recomm Rep2022;71(No. RR-3):1–95. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association.Promote safe storage and disposal of opioids and all medications.Centers for Disease Control.Preventing an opioid overdose.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about several safety issues with opioid pain medicines; requires label changes.
National Center for Biotechnology Information PubChem.Compound summary for CID 5284603, oxycodone.
National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.
Food and Drug Administration.Oxycontin label.
Dowell D, Haegerich T, Chou R.CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2016;65(No. RR-1):1–49. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr6501e1
Food and Drug Administration.Xtampza ER Label.
National Institutes of Health.Oxycodone hydrochloride solution. Dailymed.
Dowell D, Ragan KR, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Chou R.CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain — United States, 2022.MMWR Recomm Rep2022;71(No. RR-3):1–95. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1
American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association.Promote safe storage and disposal of opioids and all medications.
Centers for Disease Control.Preventing an opioid overdose.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about several safety issues with opioid pain medicines; requires label changes.
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